Friday, September 26, 2008
ScrapBlog
I found this site this summer but hadn't played much with it, however I decided to play around today. I apologize in advance for the wasted hours you, too, will now experience! The example below was a template option (poem included) but you can custom make pages and books, too.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Ladies who Lunch
Today Charlotte and I had lunch with our friends Kari and Addie at Olive Garden. The girls were precious!
I left my Nikon home but was kicking myself when the bill came that I only had my blurry point-and-shoot...our two beauties decided they wanted to pick up the tab!!!
I left my Nikon home but was kicking myself when the bill came that I only had my blurry point-and-shoot...our two beauties decided they wanted to pick up the tab!!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Explosion!
No more-ah dat.
I want Daddy/Mommy!
I saw punkin.
Three of the phrases we have heard in the past few days. Charlotte is exploding with language and word pairing. Blows my mind really. I am trying to get her to cooperate so I can video her singing the ABCs (in perfect pitch, much to my delight!). She knows them ALL...except L, M, N, O, P. We hear H, I, J, K, Apple and a P. So cute. Maybe she will let me get it on camera someday!
She has also been enjoying dining with utensils...
...and drinking Mott's for Tots.
So many new things around here, I can hardly keep up! Thanks for indulging my mommy pride!
I want Daddy/Mommy!
I saw punkin.
Three of the phrases we have heard in the past few days. Charlotte is exploding with language and word pairing. Blows my mind really. I am trying to get her to cooperate so I can video her singing the ABCs (in perfect pitch, much to my delight!). She knows them ALL...except L, M, N, O, P. We hear H, I, J, K, Apple and a P. So cute. Maybe she will let me get it on camera someday!
She has also been enjoying dining with utensils...
...and drinking Mott's for Tots.
So many new things around here, I can hardly keep up! Thanks for indulging my mommy pride!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friend Connection
Over the past few months I have been reunited with several great friends! What's nice is that the friendships continue to grow though we don't see each other regularly. Miles (sometimes oceans) and busy schedules have kept us apart, however, we have made time to reconnect and stay fresh with all the happenings in each other's lives.
Kay and Jon visited from England this summer. I met Kay when I was just 19 while visiting a Young Life camp in upstate NY (Lake Champion) where my sister was on staff for the summer. We became instant friends. I love my British "bird" from across the pond! And she loves her American Girl. Speaking of love, Charlotte loved her husband, Jon. Such a fun visit! Next time we'll come to you, okay?
I also got to have dinner in Columbia with my high school pal, Jo, right before she jetted off to Italy where she will study design in Florence for a few months. Here we are outside of P.F. Changs. Mmmm lettuce wraps. I miss you, Jo!
Last week I had dinner with another friend since high school, Krysten. She just bought a house in her hometown of Annapolis, however, over the past few years she has lived in both Alabama and Germany...so I am thrilled to have her back in Maryland. I especially love her for getting Charlotte the massively huge pink stuffed bunny for her 1st birthday, which she still adores to this day!
My latest friend connection happened last Friday. Theresa and her son, Anthony (14 mos), came up from Florida to visit family. On her way to PA to see her sister, she popped in for a playdate. I met her through my sister when they were in college at UMBC, and Theresa has lived all over as well. Japan was the most recent station (her husband flies helos for the Navy) - so actually, she was the furthest from me! I am also happy to have her back in the states, even if she is down south. Anthony and Charlotte had fun playing together. Surreal to see us with our little ones!
So, if anyone else wants to reconnect, we are open and ready! We love having visitors and I always enjoy dinner with my girlfriends.
Kay and Jon visited from England this summer. I met Kay when I was just 19 while visiting a Young Life camp in upstate NY (Lake Champion) where my sister was on staff for the summer. We became instant friends. I love my British "bird" from across the pond! And she loves her American Girl. Speaking of love, Charlotte loved her husband, Jon. Such a fun visit! Next time we'll come to you, okay?
I also got to have dinner in Columbia with my high school pal, Jo, right before she jetted off to Italy where she will study design in Florence for a few months. Here we are outside of P.F. Changs. Mmmm lettuce wraps. I miss you, Jo!
Last week I had dinner with another friend since high school, Krysten. She just bought a house in her hometown of Annapolis, however, over the past few years she has lived in both Alabama and Germany...so I am thrilled to have her back in Maryland. I especially love her for getting Charlotte the massively huge pink stuffed bunny for her 1st birthday, which she still adores to this day!
My latest friend connection happened last Friday. Theresa and her son, Anthony (14 mos), came up from Florida to visit family. On her way to PA to see her sister, she popped in for a playdate. I met her through my sister when they were in college at UMBC, and Theresa has lived all over as well. Japan was the most recent station (her husband flies helos for the Navy) - so actually, she was the furthest from me! I am also happy to have her back in the states, even if she is down south. Anthony and Charlotte had fun playing together. Surreal to see us with our little ones!
So, if anyone else wants to reconnect, we are open and ready! We love having visitors and I always enjoy dinner with my girlfriends.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Happy Birthday, Pop Pop!
We love you! Thank you for making our lives brighter. Charlotte just adores you and the sweet times spent on the hammock and in your yard this summer. Enjoy this special day!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
My I.D.
After realizing I have been driving on an expired license since my birthday, I decided I should take a trip to our local MVA. I knew that upon arriving I would have to surrender what feels like the last link to the "former" me: my early twenties ID. As I examined my little laminated license photo with all its history from back in December 2003, I couldn't help but chuckle at all that has changed over these past 5 years.
The poised girl in the picture was a young newlywed and eager career woman. Hair a lighter shade of blonde and weight exaggerated a few pounds under what she actually weighed, there stood the younger version of myself complete with big, naive grin. Priorities were different then. Life was simpler. I was just happy to have scored such a great license photo! I was so proud to flash it whenever asked. Hey, I know good MVA photos are hard to come by.
Who would have known that 5 years from that photo I would be where I am today? Much has changed! A great career has been placed on hold so I can raise my precious daughter. My hair is its darker, natural hue. The weight, well, I can honestly say I only had to add 5 lbs to the original number from back then (still a small lie on the total weight, but we ladies have the right to shave off a few lbs on such a public record!). Since that photo of a slim me from 5 years ago, I had gained 30 lbs in marriage, and then 40 more lbs in pregnancy. In the past year I have worked hard to loose nearly ALL of that! It was funny to have come full circle in that category. Though the weight may be similar to what it was then, its distribution is quite different (ah, the joys of motherhood!)...but that seemed to be the only thing the same from 5 years back. My identity is so different today!
Some people look back and wish for what has been. I know I am guilty of doing this from time to time. If only this license photo were as cute as the previous one...If only I didn't have these stretch marks and wrinkles...If only I were still working in pharmaceuticals donning the trendiest fashions and heels...If only I were the kind of wife or mom I thought I would be before I became one! (You mean Super Mom isn't attainable?)
But I find myself today a much better version of my old self. I was happy to discard my old ID to the sweet lady as she asked me to be seated for a quick vision check. I am pleased to report that I am seeing things much more clearly now 5 years later, even through tired mommy eyes, and my new found ID - though challenging and often unglamorous - is really quite glorious and one that I would not go back in time to change. Becoming a mother has transformed me into something, well, greater than I once was. And it has drawn me closer to God, too!
As I look toward my future date with the MVA for my next license photo - year 2013 - I know that I will embrace whatever my identity will be for that chapter of my life, too!
How has life evolved your ID?
The poised girl in the picture was a young newlywed and eager career woman. Hair a lighter shade of blonde and weight exaggerated a few pounds under what she actually weighed, there stood the younger version of myself complete with big, naive grin. Priorities were different then. Life was simpler. I was just happy to have scored such a great license photo! I was so proud to flash it whenever asked. Hey, I know good MVA photos are hard to come by.
Who would have known that 5 years from that photo I would be where I am today? Much has changed! A great career has been placed on hold so I can raise my precious daughter. My hair is its darker, natural hue. The weight, well, I can honestly say I only had to add 5 lbs to the original number from back then (still a small lie on the total weight, but we ladies have the right to shave off a few lbs on such a public record!). Since that photo of a slim me from 5 years ago, I had gained 30 lbs in marriage, and then 40 more lbs in pregnancy. In the past year I have worked hard to loose nearly ALL of that! It was funny to have come full circle in that category. Though the weight may be similar to what it was then, its distribution is quite different (ah, the joys of motherhood!)...but that seemed to be the only thing the same from 5 years back. My identity is so different today!
Some people look back and wish for what has been. I know I am guilty of doing this from time to time. If only this license photo were as cute as the previous one...If only I didn't have these stretch marks and wrinkles...If only I were still working in pharmaceuticals donning the trendiest fashions and heels...If only I were the kind of wife or mom I thought I would be before I became one! (You mean Super Mom isn't attainable?)
But I find myself today a much better version of my old self. I was happy to discard my old ID to the sweet lady as she asked me to be seated for a quick vision check. I am pleased to report that I am seeing things much more clearly now 5 years later, even through tired mommy eyes, and my new found ID - though challenging and often unglamorous - is really quite glorious and one that I would not go back in time to change. Becoming a mother has transformed me into something, well, greater than I once was. And it has drawn me closer to God, too!
As I look toward my future date with the MVA for my next license photo - year 2013 - I know that I will embrace whatever my identity will be for that chapter of my life, too!
How has life evolved your ID?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Walking Wonder
As many of you know, Miss Charlotte dances to the beat of her own drum. She tends to do things at her own pace when she feels good and ready. Walking was no exception.
Focused more on talking and singing, Charlotte was quite content to sit put reading books and playing on her own, scooting or crawling where she wanted to go.
Two weeks before she turned 18 months Charlotte decided it was time to walk. I was so thankful to have my little camera nearby and even more excited that she hit this exciting milestone with both Mommy and Daddy right there to see it.
Here are the videos from that special night. It was actually the night before my 28th birthday. It was the best gift of all!
Now Charlotte is on the go full time and is walking everywhere. I just love to see her toddle along. We knew she would get there in her own, perfect timing!
Focused more on talking and singing, Charlotte was quite content to sit put reading books and playing on her own, scooting or crawling where she wanted to go.
Two weeks before she turned 18 months Charlotte decided it was time to walk. I was so thankful to have my little camera nearby and even more excited that she hit this exciting milestone with both Mommy and Daddy right there to see it.
Here are the videos from that special night. It was actually the night before my 28th birthday. It was the best gift of all!
Now Charlotte is on the go full time and is walking everywhere. I just love to see her toddle along. We knew she would get there in her own, perfect timing!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Oh Baby!
Three of my friends delivered baby girls on the same day - August 26th! Isn't that amazing?
Kimberlyn had Chloe, Adrienne had Calleigh and Kristen had Reese. All moms and babies are doing well and have my most heartfelt congrats!
In late July I had the pleasure of taking maternity portraits of Adrienne (with Kim's guidance at her studio, thanks, Kim!). Here are my favorites, she was completely adorable pregnant!
Monday, September 8, 2008
18 Months
A year and a half? Already? I suppose time slows for no one.
Here is our gorgeous, growing girl playing in the yard in the dress I made for her 1st birthday. She is finally walking (when she feels like it) and singing and talking up a storm. Little Miss Chatterbox, oh how we adore you!
In celebration I fancied up our blog - learn more at The Cutest Blog on The Block.
Here is our gorgeous, growing girl playing in the yard in the dress I made for her 1st birthday. She is finally walking (when she feels like it) and singing and talking up a storm. Little Miss Chatterbox, oh how we adore you!
In celebration I fancied up our blog - learn more at The Cutest Blog on The Block.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Labor Day Weekend
We had such a fabulous time! We extended our stay through Tuesday night and enjoyed perfect weather and a great time with family. I was even able to set up a makeshift tripod in order to get some gorgeous family shots on the dunes, I am working on editing those and will have them ready to be blogged soon. They turned out great! Big thanks to Mom Mom & Pop Pop for hosting us at your beautiful condos. Check out many more pictures by clicking here.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Bye, Bye Summer
With September upon us I felt it was fitting to share some pictures of a popsicle stained Charlotte as a farewell to a memorable summer!
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